I am re-reading Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung - The collected essays of Lester Bangs, the literary master of rock music criticism. About a thousand words into 'The Clash, Part 1' I came across this masterful description of Punk.
While skill and craft are essential, brutal conviction is not something that can be overlayed onto a musician, nor should there be a need to. Whether you find expression in classic rock, covers, or experimental lo-fi, either your art is from the heart or you have accepted the role of snake-oil salesman.
